Chapter 3: The Goddess of Thunder

I opened the tavern early that day, my mind in many places. I was actually taking the lack of Church very well. I had expected myself to breakdown, but I thought that if Church knew that I was mourning over him he would feel burdened. For his sake I gained the strength enough to continue living. After all, what would that accomplish?

The same man, who I saw in the springs the day before, came to the tavern first again. He greeted me and went out into the courtyard to bathe. I had noticed that almost everyone who came to the tavern bathed in the spring. I supposed that most the people in the town bathed here, because it was possibly the only warm bath within miles. Most people just bathed in extremely cold water.

There were many others that came that I had seen the previous day. They were all kind to me and aided me, knowing that I now ran the tavern on my own. For several days my routine never changed. It was not till the second day of my second week without Church that an event, so colossal in importance to my life, that my life changed drastically.

It was early, so early, in fact, that the forming of moist dew was just beginning to rise on each blade of grass. The wind, exceedingly strong, rapped at the door as if it were deliberately trying to tare it from its foundation. The wind whistled as I walked out into the cold morning air to bathe myself. The courtyard was amidst a fog so great that it looked as if the wind had blown a cloud to the earth. The steam from the spring met the air and formed a haze that could not be seen through.

I cautiously removed my short dress and undergarment, leaving them near the door so I would not lose them. My body responded to the cold air on my soft skin and I shivered. My body felt a sensation, although not necessarily a warm sensation, but a diverse sensation. Alas my body could not bare the chill, so I sauntered into the gray haze and slowly lowered my self into the pool of steaming water. I felt an even greater sensation as I felt the cool of my body be immersed by the strong warmth of the spring.

Although most certainly not a spring of eternal life, I felt as though I had beauty so great that that it out ranked any measurements of standard by an enormous scale. I fully submerged myself, and for a short while stayed that way. I wanted to endure the sensation for the rest of my life. I wanted the soothing waters to envelope me in its life giving moistness and carress me with warmth.

After a while I kept my head above the water, and I just relaxed. I closed my eyes and listened to the world waking up. The birds began to chirp as they set off to begin searching for their morning catches. My ears always heard many things. Because I had for many years been trained as an assassin, my senses of hearing, sight, and smell surpassed even that of the greatest rangers.

The morning was almost at its usual pace, but I sensed that something had changed someone was out there. Some one was watching me. And as a fear grew in my mind I also knew, that whoever was watching me now knew that I was aware of his presence. But whoever this person was, they were so skilled in the art of evasion that I could neither hear, nor smell them. I felt the strong urge to leave, but I remained still.

I heard for the first time the movements of my onlooker, but it was only for a brief moment for he had been on the high wall until then. He had now jumped down from the wall out into the outer perimeter. I quickly rose from the pool, and, although still nude, I leapt onto the wall and my finger with much force sunk into the wall as I created a foothold. I then began to scramble up to apex to try to glimpse the fleeing spy.

When my hand, trembling, reached the top of the wall, I pulled myself up and stood, examining the land. My eyes caught sight of a light so bright that I stumbled backwards, falling on my bottom. I tried to stand again, shielding my eyes, but my arm itself was not enough to prevent the empowering rays of light from blinding my vision.

I heard now the sound of galloping hooves, and I knew my assailant was escaping. When I saw that the light was almost completely faded, I looked over the high wall. A wind caught me as I saw the darkest of clouds forming over the hills in the distance. On the highest hill a light rose up and I could see the outline of an enormous white horse. Protruding from its head was a long, jagged, golden horn. I saw now as it turned to me, its eyes were of crimson, and blood seeped from its eye sockets.

The beast went back on its muscular hind legs and bucked. It let out a screeching nay, and I covered my ears. Not just from the screech, but also from the overwhelming blast of thunder that whipped at the darkening sky. I peered out once more to see a pillar of lightning reach out and connect with the beast's horn. Electricity surged around the beast. It once more let out a horrendous screech and time I couldn't bare it. My vision blurred as a wall of drizzling rain pound at my bare body. My eyes grew numb, and my body shutdown, and as swiftly as it had all begun it was over.

I awoke, still on the wall. Rain continued to pour, and my body was numb from the exposure to the cold. I shivered as I rose on my weak, trebling knees. My breathing pattern was forced into to pants. I hobbled back the edge of the courtyard wall. I lowered myself onto the footholds, and slowly I descended the high wall, just as I had ascended.

When my feet touched the damp grass, I sauntered to the door and found my clothes. I went inside and up to my room. I found a towel and dried myself. When I was dry I crawled into bed and pulled my blankets around me. I felt the warmth, but I also felt a sickness. Long exposure to the wetness and chill had unquestionably sickened me.

I slept and did not even bother to open the tavern to the public, although, because of the rain I doubted that anyone would even come. Eventually my sickness gave me a brutal cough. As the rain continued for the next few days I stayed in bed and got up only to feed myself. One day though, as I was going down to feed myself; I realized that we had virtually no food left.

Church had left me with a sufficient amount of money for such an occasion as this one. I decided that even though I was still slightly ill that I would have to go into to town for food. So early on the first day of my third week, I left towards town on one of Church's horses. I was glad that Church had a neighbor who came and fed the horses for him. I had ridded horses before, but I knew little of how to feed them.

For most of the morning I rode until I saw a man on the rode. His clothes were torn all over and I saw that he was also very scrapped up as well. I stopped by the man, but he kept walking. I asked him if he was all right, but he did not answer. I asked him if he had been robbed and if he had then I would help him. I pause and quietly said, "Leave me." I was a little taken aback but I guessed that the man had a reason for not telling me anything. So I left more than most of my money to him and rode on. He stared at the money for a while, but in time he took the money and too went his way. I felt happiness for helping the man, but now I was with little money. I would be lucky to get any food at all.

At noon I reached the market of the town. First I went to the fruit court, and purchased three apples. I ate one right then. The other I stuffed in my haversack and moved on to the dairy court. I got a round of cheese and was virtually out of money. I went to the food court and attempted to bribe one of the clerks with cute talk, but they insisted that if I had no money, then I would not be given any food.

"But please," I cried. "If I do not get any food then I will die." A man chuckled as I finished and said, "I can pay for the food." He said as he licked his lips," but you'll have to do me a favor in return."

I turned and began to walk away when a hand grasped my shoulder. I would have turned and slugged the person if it had not been from the fact that it felt like the soft touch of a woman. I turned and was correct. I women, beautiful, with bright blue eyes and long golden hair stood before me. She smiled upon me with hand on her slender hips. She had scarlet legs, and a wondrous, white, silky cloak. She appeared to be in her early twenties. Her appearance was mesmerizing to point that her beauty almost glowed.

Her voice when she spoke to me was sweet and kind, "I can give you food." She said. "And for no price at all.

"What's the catch." Asked somewhat rudely. She did not waver but replied, "There is no catch. You need help, and I am willing to help."

I apologized and at the same time thanked her. She asked me where I lived, and I told her. She, in turn, told me where she lived. It was approximately halfway between the tavern and town. She said she had a larger home and was wealthy. From the looks of her, I did not doubt it. She told me her name was Xion and I told her mine was Zabuza.

She too had a horse, and we rode together. For about an hour we talked and rode until the road forked, and we went west towards her home. When the sun began to fall, we reached her home. It was as she had said, gigantic.

We put our horses in the stables and went into the mansion she called a mere home. She led me to her dinning room and told me to wait as she fetched me rations. I waited for no more than five minutes before she returned with four huge baskets full of food. I gasped. One was full of fruit, one of vegetables, one of dairy, and one loaded with meat.

We feasted, and none to my surprise it began to pour. She invited me to stay the night and I agreed. The room she gave me was almost ten times the size of my room at the tavern. I changed into a white robe she gave me and fell asleep.

It was late when a soft hand woke me by caressing my cheek. I arose to see that it was Xion. I wanted to speak up against her put she put a finger to her pursed lips and signaled me to follow her. "I want to show you something."

She led me downstairs and we walked outside into the pouring rain. We walked across her field and when we were half way she began to run, "Come on!" she yelled back to me. In the confusion I obeyed. Upon reaching the forest's edge at the end of the field I lost her. I ran inside the thick wooded area and called for her, "Xion, where are you? I can't see you." I continued deeper into the forest and fear began to stir inside me, as she did not answer. For almost ten minutes I called for her until I decided I would turn back for help. Before I reached the edge of the forest she grabbed me and pinned me against a tree. Her lips met mine and I gasped trying to get free as she continued. I wanted to stop her, but I did not want to hurt her. I felt her softly caress me hips and my sides. I tried sway from her eager fingers. Finally, when she gave me room to breath, I told her I did not like what she was doing.

Her eyes grew wide in surprise, "Am I not attractive to you?" she asked as she slightly backed off. I was sad for I felt that I had cut her deeply. "Yes you are." I said. "But I do not like women in that way."

"Why?" she asked.

"Because it is not right in society." I replied.

"But if you love someone, you should go for it." She told me softly. I realized now that I did not care if she was a woman or man, but what I did realize was that I what she said made sense. "I agree." I said. She smiled in relief an almost kissed me again before I stopped her. "But I love someone else."

"I saw what you wanted to show me, but I do not want it" I said to her. She, I was happy to see, was not completely saddened. "But that was not what I wanted to show you." She said. "This is." As she said this she backed away and her figure glowed. I was amazed as I saw the woman begin to allow the light to effectively cover her body and transform it. I gasped when she clutched her brow in pain. As if a sword had burst from through the forehead of her skull, a jagged horn emerged. My stomach twisted when I saw that it was golden, and I realized what Xion was transforming into.

She grasped her eyes in suffrage, as if she wanted to gauge out her eyeballs. Her soft, ivory skin turned pale then smooth white fur grew. She began to enlarge, and her wet garments tore and fell to the ground. She fell on all four, as her face became a muzzle and her feet hooves. Her chest grew flat then rounded to form the curved underside of a horse. When a tale formed, Xion's painful transformation had ended.

She or it turned to me. I felt my eyes begin to water as her bleeding, crimson eyes starred at me. How could she endure so much pain? She galloped to me and I momentarily flinched. When she ceased in front of me, she pushed her muzzle to me. I instinctively petted and caressed the fur above her nose.

"Zabuza, If you won't love me…then please do me one favor." She whispered into my mind for her horse mouth did not move. "What?" I asked her.

"Will you ride me every night on this night of the week? She said softly. I was exhilarated, although I was not sure why. I supposed it was because Xion's mystical form was hard to stay away from. "Yes. I said."

After I had mounted Xion, we set off into the forest where we spoke again. "How…" I said. "How can you be what you are?"

"What am I?" She asked me. "Am I not good enough or are you speaking of my appearance."

"Yes." I told her. "You were watching me from the high wall. Why? And why do change into the form if it caused you pain?" I had so many questions to ask her, but I had to be patient.

"Well isn't it obvious? I spied on you for the same reason that I brought you here today. It was because I wanted to have you as my own." She said as if she still wanted me.

"I understand, but you're a mage. What is that like?" I asked her. She laughed slightly then spoke almost with a cold shoulder, "Mage! I did not create this form on my own. This is who I am. Earlier you asked me why I transformed if it brought me throbbing to my knees." She pause her, not just in her speech, but her steady galloping too. "Because that pain that I endure when transforming is but a speck of dust in the wind compared to the sensation I feel as the winged goddess Sugamura Xion.

"Sugamura! Aren't those messengers? My father once met with one. The messanger's name was Sugamura Rah." I said, memories flooding back to me.

"Rah…hahah. I only thought he did messages if they were extremely important." She laughed expressing a tone that I did not understand. "He was the fire Sugamura as am I the thunder. Wow! Your father must have been a god if Rah answered to him."

I tensed. I felt stupid, I felt young, and I felt weak. Why had I let myself ramble if I knew that it would lead me to anger? "My father was no god…or an angel for that matter. He paid Rah to betray the arch and to tell the phantom War that Cear Kruz would be easy to take with the lack of mages." My face flushed, and my eyes dilated. My pupils altered red and then they liquefied, filling my entire eye with the color. The gums of my mouth pushed my fangs outward, adding a more to what I already had. I had fangs all along, complimentary of being part demon. As I let the darkness inside me take control, the ground beneath our feet trembled.

Xion, who sensed what was happening, bucked sending me sliding from her back. She reared around to face me, her hooves pounding the dirt. "Silence girl!" She yelled in a furious rage. "What demon cast upon you should cause you to forget what you love? Have you forsaken this holy place and me?" she paused and said softly, "Don't forget the world that does not forget you. What is rage to you, a way out or way home? Home to a place where no one remembers your name…Changeling girl you must live to die. And you…you have not even begun to fathom what the world gives. Go home…find what pains you. Is it really your father?

Her words spoke the truth, and it was the truth that brought me back to the cozy tavern in one piece. Although I did not tell Zabuza that I would return like she asked, I did intend to anyways.

With the rain stopped, horse in the stable, and a smile on my face, I opened the door to the tavern. I stepped forward and my foot touched an envelope. I looked down to see a letter addressed to my name. Every other day or so a letter would come for Church, but this was my first that Church had sent me. I hastily slammed the door behind me and ran to my room. I nuzzled into my bed and tore the envelope open. It was in Church's writing.

Zabuza,

It's been a while, but I know that you are doing fine. I am doing fine as well, although I have been faced with many battles lately. As I am writing this letter to you, the men of the night shift are switching with the morning shift. I am in Waymont, the city of the Skull Ridge Valley. We were able to keep the lizero from reaching Wansaya. Which means that I might be able to return earlier than I expected.

I apologize, but I do not have any money for food to send to you yet, but I get my first payment in a few short days. I hope that you can care for yourself and to wish me luck. If we can find who is behind this mess then I will be home within the next two weeks. Good Luck with the shop.

With best intentions,

Church

It did not bother me that Church did not have money for me. Xion had taken care of that with the food baskets she gave me, and even then if she didn't supply me with food, then my past assassin techniques would allow me to forage for food.

I spent the next five days thinking of Church's return, pondering the mystery of Xion, and most of all I ran the tavern. That week seemed to be the busiest week I had worked yet. The money I made from drinks was more than enough to take matters into my own hands.

On Saturday I went into town and purchased paint and supplies. I spent that whole day, fixing up the tavern. My greatest accomplishment, of course, was the painting of all of both the inside and the outside of the whole tavern. It was now white (instead of the lumber tinted).

Late that night I sat up in my bed, and tried to think of a gift for Xion when I would see her the next night. My feelings were a mixture of sorrow for my denial to her, and the strange want to always be around her. I often though that she might have been casting a spell on me, but I realized that it was just her friendly attitude that kept me coming back to her.

My first thought of a gift was flowers, but then I figured she would take it the wrong way, as would she react badly if I got her pretty much anything of value. She was eerie in the fact that she did not quite understand the wrongdoing in relation ship with another woman. I supposed it was because she didn't know much of human customs.

After several minutes of thinking I gave up. My gift would be just to ride her. To feel the sense of power I felt the first time I rode her through almost enchanted forest. In my momentary despair, my eyelids grew heavy and I wavered into to a deep sleep. My dreams again no longer filled with painful memories of my father, but this time with images of Church's return and me riding through the mystical forest with the woman who knew it best.

I awoke, refreshed and energetic. I decided that since Xion loved nature so much, I would spend the entire day searching for an object so beautiful that it could only be found in nature.

Noon brought me South into the marshes. I rode on through it until I reached the extremely moist swamplands. The land that I would least expect to find anything of beauty, but I knew that even a swamp was beautiful in Xion's eyes. As a test to prove I could understand her I went into the land and began my search.

Then I strode through the land, my sandals becoming caked with gobs of mud, and the irritation of rash and itch agitated my flesh. The sickening smell of rot and haze filled my nostril with a putrid stench. I gagged at the scent that turned me pale as snow. I pinched my nose and continued deeper into the dark lands. At this point I left my horse behind. The mud was quickly replaced with sludge as I now crossed a sickening green water. As I neared the middle of the outlet stream I was forced to tread water and paddle towards the further shore. I felt an eerie feeling that I was not alone in those wasters.

It did not take long for me to realize that I had been correct about my feeling. I saw a long coil slither along the surface of the water. I gasped and began to swim fast towards the shore, that just moments before didn't seem so inviting. Now that the massive, green serpent's attention was turned on me, the disgusting bog beyond the shore's edge looked like the greatest refuge in all of Miraga. I began to understand that true beauty could only be lived by the moment.

When I saw that the pace of the serpent was far greater than mine I began to fear that I would not make it to the shore before the beast reached me. When my feet felt land beneath me I began to make haste struggling out of the water. I sloshed through the dense water. I was almost there when my foot hit a rock and I lost my traction. I stumbled forward into the water. When my mind momentarily locked down, darkness filled my sight and water filled my lungs. Had not there been a tree root for my hand to grasp, I might have been lost to the water or the insides of the colossal snake.

I pulled with all the might I had left. I pulled until my head emerged. I tried to breath but my lungs were overflowing with water. I chocked and pounded at my chest until the water spewed back. I swallowed a satisfying breath before I crawled up the shoreline and stumbled, exhausted, away from the treacherous water. I turned to see the serpent circle around and turn back. I closed my eyes and sighed in relief.

My relief was short lived when the serpent circled again this time it slithered up shore. It was so quick I had no time to react. Its maw passed my flank as its body slithered around me binding me and forbidding the passage of air into my lungs. I tried to squirm but its muscles were so strong I lost the ability of movement. I began to feel pain, and I prayed for a way to free myself. I felt an enormous head hover over mine as it prepared to feast on its prey. Hope struck when my fingertips found the open flap of my haversack. I reached in and my hand brushed across a blade, but in my current predicament it was not within my grasp.

With nothing but escape on my mind, I did the unthinkable; I jerked my head forward and clamped my jaws down hard into the scales of the serpent. I broke skin, and the serpent flinched. This was enough for me to reach the blade and begin to scrape at the beast's skin.

It was angered and it tightened, my air completely depleted. I grew blue but continued my hack fest. In pain the serpent head lunged, going for the kill. I lunged my head up to meet in, and I was happy when the fangs did not sink into my skull. It recoiled back waiting to strike again. Although my lack of air was now beginning to kill me, I continued my assault, until finally I reached half way into serpent's intestines with the blade.

With all my strength I began to cut along the length of snake. It snared in pain and loosened. It hissed and made another lunge at me, this time the fangs scraped across the back of my neck. I trembled in pain, and I would have cried out had I not lacked air. I should have died, but miracle struck. When the serpent scraped my neck it also sunk into its own skin. This pain was enough for the serpent to loosen its hold so much my arms raised in freedom, and I chocked in a breath. The snake lunged a final time; this time with blade in hand I drove through the palate of the snake's skull. It died on contact when its brains were smashed through the top of its head.

I stood hobbling in my victory. My body was, dirty and bloody, an unlikely sight. My right arm was a pool of dark blood of its own. The blade was no longer visible under the moral fiber of the serpent. I stood alone a victor, a warrior, and a free spirit. I did this for Xion and I laughed as I saw what I came to the vile place for. I snatched it and headed back across the swamp. Even through the molding brew, I was fearless. I returned home and thoroughly cleaned myself just in time enough to still reach Xion's just a bit late.

My favored steed brought me to Xion's late into the evening. I was later than I had hoped to be, but I didn't expect Xion to care for my delay. I tied the horse to a stable stall and went, without knocking, into the manor. Even for the second time I marveled at its immense size and took my time before I called for Xion. I was a bit embarrassed about the yell, but I would have rather yelled then have to search the whole house for Xion.

Within seconds of my call the beautiful, blond haired women with high check bones and perfect curves responded by dashing down the main staircase with a broad smile crossing her face. I ran to meet her and we embraced. "I didn't think you would return." Said Xion with relief in her voice. "I made a promise to a good friend." I said. "That I would return from now on."

"I have something for you." I said. It was strange that earlier I had joked about giving flowers to Xion, but what I found in the marshes was indeed a flower. It was violet and had a long stem. It actually looked as if it were a violet rose, but it was not. Still its beauty was still great and I was overwhelmed with joy when Xion smiled in appreciation. I expected her to take the flower in her hand, but when she reached for it she did something else instead. She locked her fingers with mine and embraced me tighter. I felt her breasts rub against mine.

"You did this for me?" she asked. "Why?" Her eyes were wet and she, being slightly taller than I bowed her head on my shoulder. "Why wouldn't I?" I told her softly, "After all, you know more than anyone one what this flower is." I wasn't sure what desires made me do it, but I turned my head and pecked at the soft skin of her neck. In response to my unknown aspiration she tilted her head back, moaning, and allowed me to kiss the smooth skin under her pretty visage.

I began to feel her sides with intense desire for her elegant beauty. My hands found her backside and fumbled at the lacing on her dress. I yanked on the stringing until without any concern for the value of the dress, I ripped the back lacings apart.

We broke our embraced, and she allowed her white dress to fall to the floor. We embraced again and I ran my hands over her thin, smooth, silk gown and gentely cupped one of her petit breasts. As she shuttered, I swiftly ran my delicate hand down over her womanhood and stroked her pleasure spots over her enticing undergarments.

For a while I pleased the sensitive areas of her refined centerfold. I grasped eagerly at the straps of her thong and shimmied it below her feet, kissing her ivory legs all the way to her delicate ankles.

Leaving Xion without the lower garments, I seized the moment to stand again and squeeze her full and exquisite buttocks. I dropped to my knees once more and pushed her buttocks towards me. I began to raise her short skirt, when she trembled and back off, tears escaping her eyes. I gasped, "I am sorry, I thought that you would have wanted to…"

"No, Zabuza, I wanted this more than anything, but I cannot do this if you love someone else." Her words struck me. In my bliss I had forgotten all about Church. What was I doing anyways? I thought I didn't love Xion… Did I? I supposed that if what I had just tried to obtain was not love for Xion then I had lost my mind. "Your right." I said. "I love two people now. But…I would do anything to be with both."

"That can't be done." She said in short gasps as she covered her beautiful womanhood…outlined by light, golden, pubic, hair it was not hard to see that she carefully groomed her self in that region as well as all the others. I was fortunate enough to know by an early age how to groom my womanhood and to keep the hair from overgrowing. Occasionally I would just allow myself to remove all of the soft hair that encircled my tight womanhood. Oh! How much I wish I could have, for just one moment, laid my hands fully upon her graceful fold. "It can be done if you will just allow it." I told her.

"Then I won't allow it!" she yelled as she slid her white thong back up her perfect legs, "I won't let this happen to us!" she said forcefully. I tried to reply, but she held up a hand to silence me. "No, don't talk, let's just ride."

And so we rode. We rode and we rode and did not stop until we could go no further. We slept under the stars, talking, and rekindled our friendship, just another friendship. I wanted her so much, but I knew that as long as I still loved Church I would never have her.

The next day I went home, and a letter from Church had arrived.

FROM: Wansaya

TO: Leekward Tavern 4

Zabuza,

I wanted to express all my feelings into this letter, but I decided that for the sake of us both I will keep it short and to the point. I care a lot about you and I know I promised I return home soon, but now I can't fulfill that promise. As matter of fact, I regret to say that I will not be returning for a very long time. Our raid in the Lizero homeland has told us that Dagron is behind the attack. So with the armies of the old alliance, the colony of Exile is infiltrating the deserts of western Dagron. I now relieve you as my servant, for I will not be returning now for more that a vague estimation of two full years. I want you to know that I wish this had never happened, but for the good of all, I have made my choice. GOD BLESS YOU ZABUZA!

A Final Farwell from one who cares,

Love Always,

Church of the Exile

Devastation surged through me. I lost everything. Without Church returning home I could not tell him how much I loved him, and because I would never know how he felt about me, I would not be able to get over him meaning I would never be able to be with Xion either.

I was through with the small tavern and the run-down town. Enclosed in the letter were months worth of money. I took it, placed it in my haversack, and left the tavern far behind. I walked because the horses were not mine so I could not take them. Alone I walked. The wind rustled against my body, and my long brown hair blew with its patterns. I was heading towards Port Wansaya, the one way out of this hellhole. This pit, this secluded piece of filth. "At all cost and through all hardships," I promised to myself. "I will not stop until I am off this godforsaken Ashland."